KARKOTA STYLE YANTRIC SHIVA-LINGA

                                       

               

Karkota Style Yantric Shiv Linga 

( Above two  photographs by Robin Koul )

My Thanks to Robin Koul who went to Narannag Temple Ruins in the Ganderbal Valley in Kashmir and photographed this rare  Yantric Style Shiv Linga  . Since he has sought details of this geometric  stone sculpture, I thought it better to  say what I know about it .

Karkota Style Yantric Shiva- Linga 

This is the famous  Karkota style Yantric Shiva Linga  of the Naranag Temple ruins in Ganderbal, Kashmir;  unfortunately, lying in a state  absolute state of neglect.

The Naranag group of temples were built in the 8th century and  dedicated to Lord Shiva and were once a great centre  of Kashmir Shaivism. What has been photographed by Robin Koul  is not just a Shiva Linga, it is a Linga installed on a Yantra. In the centre is the Shiva Linga standing inside a circular Yoni. This represents Shiva and Shakti together. Around it you can see a square border. In Yantra Shastra this square is called Bhupura. Inside the square there are four triangles that intersect each other and form an eight-pointed star. This is called an Ashta-dala or eight-petalled lotus Yantra.

Many people call it Sri Yantra, which is  correct only in a popular sense. The real Sri Yantra has nine interlocking triangles and 43 smaller triangles. This stone is a simpler and older version of the same idea. The principle is the same - showing the union of male and female energy.

The small channel we see on one side is called Pranala. It was used to drain the water and milk poured on the Linga during puja. The fact that can still holds water today shows how precisely it was carved more than 1200 years ago.

So in short, it is a decorated Yoni-peetha, a tantric base for Shiva worship, which is the ancestor of the Sri Yantra we know today.

The group of temples at Naranag in Ganderbal valley on the bank of the Wangath stream was first founded in antiquity and tradition attributes the earliest shrine to Jaluka son of Ashoka but the stone temples that survive today in grey granite were built in the eighth century by Lalitaditya Muktapida the most powerful ruler of the Karkota dynasty of Kashmir with later endowments by Avantivarman and the site was dedicated to Shiva as Bhuteshwar and served as a centre of Kashmir Shaivism and a gateway for pilgrims to the sacred lakes of Harmukh and Gangabal. The temples were destroyed in two distinct phases of iconoclasm. The first phase occurred during the reign of Sultan Sikandar Butshikan who ruled from thirteen eighty nine to fourteen thirteen and whose minister Suha Bhatta was tasked to destroy majority of the   Hindu shrines across the valley as recorded in Jonaraja continuation of Kalhana Rajatarangini. The second and final phase is described in detail in Tohfatul Ahbab the Persian biography of the Iranian Nurbakhshi missionary Mir Shams ud Din Muhammad Araqi who entered Kashmir in fourteen eighty one and again in fifteen hundred one and fifteen hundred five under the patronage of Musa Raina and Kaji Chak. Tohfatul Ahbab openly celebrates Araqi mission to cleanse Kashmir of idol worship and states that he and his accomplices  pulled down huge temples and razed imposing structures to the ground and that upon their ruins mosques were erected. The text  details this pattern of destruction and reuse of the sacred material . Once a great centre of Shaivism, Naranag now stands as roofless ruins with fallen pillars lingas and Yantric pedestals .

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

THE STORY OF LOWE'S STORES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

                                             

The Complete Lowes Story From Foundations To Finishing Touches And Total Home Comfort

Lowes is recognised across the United States and in parts of Canada as one of the largest and most comprehensive home improvement retailers. While many customers first discover it for timber or a simple repair part, the true scale of the offer only becomes clear when you walk the entire store. It brings together under one roof everything needed to build a property from the ground up, to maintain its essential services, to decorate and finish its interior, and to make it comfortable, stylish and personal. This write up combines every major department into one complete guide, from heavy building materials to soft bedding, from power tools to plush carpets and fine furniture.

1. Building Materials And Structural Essentials

The heart of any Lowes store is its building materials section, which forms the backbone for contractors, tradespeople and serious do it yourself enthusiasts. The timber yard is extensive, stocked with softwood studs, joists and planks, hardwood boards for joinery, plywood sheets, oriented strand board, medium density fibreboard, chipboard and decorative panelling. Timber is available in a variety of lengths and cross sections, with clear information on grading and treatment. Alongside timber you will find plasterboard in standard and moisture resistant versions, cement, ready mixed concrete, mortar, sand, aggregates, bricks, concrete blocks and insulation in rolls, batts and rigid sheets. Roofing is fully covered with shingles, felt, flashing, guttering, downpipes and roof windows. For external works there are retaining wall blocks, paving slabs, fence panels, posts and gravel boards. Doors and windows are displayed in large bays, with internal doors in panelled, flush, glazed and barn styles, external doors in timber, steel and fibreglass, patio doors, French doors and a full selection of vinyl and aluminium windows in many sizes. The hardware aisle supports all of this with nails, screws, bolts, anchors, brackets, hinges, chains, ropes and adhesives. Staff with forklifts assist with heavy loads, and bulk delivery by lorry can be arranged for larger projects.

2. Tools For Every Trade And Every Home Owner

Tools are a defining feature of Lowes and the department is laid out to serve both the professional who relies on tools daily and the home owner who needs a reliable set for occasional jobs. Power tools are displayed by brand and by battery platform, with names such as DeWalt, Craftsman, Kobalt, Bosch and Makita taking centre stage. The range includes drills, impact drivers, circular saws, mitre saws, jigsaws, reciprocating saws, belt sanders, orbital sanders, planers, routers, angle grinders and multi tools, in both corded and cordless versions. Cordless systems are especially popular because one battery can power many tools. Hand tools are equally comprehensive, with spanners, socket sets, screwdrivers, pliers, hammers, mallets, chisels, hand saws, levels, squares, tape measures and marking tools arranged in logical order. Workshop equipment includes workbenches, sawhorses, vices, clamps and tool storage solutions such as tool boxes, rolling chests, wall mounted rail systems and stackable organisers. For jobs that require expensive specialist equipment for only a short period, many stores operate a tool hire service offering floor sanders, tile cutters, carpet cleaners, drain snakes, concrete mixers and scaffolding. Personal protective equipment including safety glasses, gloves, ear defenders, knee pads and dust masks is located close by, reinforcing a focus on safe working.

3. Plumbing Electrical Lighting And Smart Home

Behind the walls of every comfortable home is a network of plumbing and electrical systems, and Lowes stocks all the components required to install and maintain them. In plumbing you will find copper tube and fittings, plastic pipe in several grades including push fit and solvent weld, flexible hoses, valves, taps, mixers, kitchen sinks in stainless steel and composite, bathroom basins, toilet suites, cisterns, bath wastes and shower valves. Water heating is covered with tank and tankless water heaters, plus water softeners, filters and pumps. Repair and maintenance items such as washers, O rings, sealants, leak detectors and pipe insulation are readily available. The electrical department provides mains cable, twin and earth cable, consumer units, circuit breakers, junction boxes, back boxes, sockets, switches, dimmers and cable management. Lighting is a major destination in its own right, with ceiling lights, pendant lights, chandeliers, recessed downlights, track lighting, under cabinet lighting, exterior wall lights, security lights with motion sensors and a huge selection of energy efficient LED lamps in warm and cool tones. The smart home section has grown rapidly and now includes smart switches, smart plugs, smart thermostats, video doorbells, security cameras, smart locks, smoke detectors and whole home hubs that can be controlled by mobile phone or voice assistant. Guidance on compatibility and on local regulations is available from trained staff.

4. Paint Decoration Flooring Carpets And Rugs

Decoration is where personality enters a home and Lowes devotes considerable space to this category. The paint area presents thousands of colours on large colour cards, with interior emulsion, exterior masonry paint, wood paint, metal paint, primers, undercoats, wood stains, varnishes, oils and spray paints from brands such as Valspar and Sherwin Williams. A computerised mixing station can match any shade from a piece of fabric, a photograph or a fragment of existing paint, allowing for precise coordination. Application tools include brushes of many sizes, rollers, trays, extension poles, masking tape, dust sheets, scrapers, fillers and sandpaper, plus ladders and access equipment. Flooring continues the decorative theme and is displayed with large samples that can be handled and taken home. Options include solid hardwood for classic warmth, engineered wood for greater stability, laminate that faithfully replicates timber or stone, luxury vinyl plank and vinyl tile that is fully waterproof and suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and busy family areas, plus ceramic, porcelain and natural stone tile for wet areas. Underlay, grout, adhesives, trims, thresholds and transition strips complete the system. Carpets and rugs add softness and colour. Wall to wall carpets are available in loop pile, twist pile, velvet saxony and Berber styles, with fibres that are stain resistant, eco friendly and suitable for stairs. Runners are ideal for hallways. Area rugs, large rugs and outdoor rugs in wool, cotton, jute, sisal and washable synthetics allow you to define zones in open plan living, introduce pattern and improve acoustics. Rug pads, carpet grippers and doorway bars ensure a safe and neat installation, and professional measuring and fitting can be booked in store.

5. Kitchens Bathrooms And Domestic Appliances

Kitchens and bathrooms are the most complex rooms in a home and Lowes addresses them with full showroom displays rather than isolated products. Kitchen displays showcase door fronts in shaker, slab, handleless and traditional raised panel styles, in painted, timber veneer and laminate finishes. Worktops are shown in laminate, solid timber, granite, quartz and recycled composite, with matching upstands, splashbacks and islands. Storage innovation is evident in pull out larders, corner carousels, deep pan drawers with soft close, integrated bins and internal organisers. Sinks in stainless steel, granite and ceramic, plus taps in chrome, brushed nickel, brass and matt black, are coordinated with the displays. Bathroom displays include straight baths, shower baths, freestanding baths, walk in showers, wet room panels, shower enclosures, vanity units with single and double basins, toilets including wall hung and close coupled models, heated towel rails, mirrors with integrated lighting and extensive storage. Design consultants offer a free planning service, creating scaled layouts and three dimensional visualisations and preparing detailed quotations that include delivery and installation by approved fitters. Adjacent to these showrooms is the domestic appliance department, laid out like a premium electrical store. Washing machines, washer dryers, tumble dryers, refrigerators in French door, side by side and top freezer formats, freezers, dishwashers, cookers, ovens, hobs, cooker hoods and microwaves are available from leading manufacturers. Finishes include white, stainless steel, black stainless and panel ready models that can be integrated behind furniture doors. Seasonal appliances such as air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heaters and fans are also stocked. Services include home delivery, connection, removal of old appliances and extended warranties.

6. Bath Sanctuary And Bedding Comfort

Lowes has invested heavily in the softer side of home comfort, particularly in bath and bedding. The bath collection goes far beyond basic white suites and aims to create a spa like experience at home. In addition to vanity units, basins and toilets, you will find freestanding soaking tubs, whirlpool baths, rainfall shower heads, body jets, frameless glass panels, smart mirrors with demisting and adjustable colour temperature, heated towel rails, bathroom cabinets with charging points and a wide array of accessories including towel rings, soap dispensers, toothbrush holders and storage baskets. Towels are offered in Egyptian cotton and zero twist cotton in a palette that ranges from crisp white and soft grey to deep navy and sage green, with matching bath mats, shower curtains and bathrobes. Bedding and linen is equally comprehensive. Duvets are available in natural down, down alternative, hollowfibre and wool, with various tog ratings for summer and winter. Pillows include memory foam, latex, gel and microfibre in soft, medium and firm support. Sheets are sold in percale for a cool crisp feel and sateen for a silky smooth finish, in sizes from single to super king and in colours that coordinate with duvet covers, quilts, coverlets and bedspreads. Mattress toppers, protectors, weighted blankets, throws and decorative cushions allow you to layer texture and warmth. The overall effect is to allow customers to refresh a bedroom completely without structural work, simply by changing textiles and accessories.

7. Furniture For Living Dining Sleeping And Working

Furniture brings all the previous categories together and Lowes offers solutions for every room. Living room furniture includes fabric and leather sofas in two seat, three seat and corner configurations, recliners, armchairs, coffee tables, side tables, TV stands, media units and bookcases in solid wood, veneer, metal and glass. Dining furniture ranges from compact two seat sets for apartments to large extending tables that seat eight or ten, with chairs in upholstered, timber and cross back styles, plus benches, bar stools and sideboards. Bedroom furniture features bed frames with ottoman and drawer storage, headboards in upholstered and timber designs, bedside tables, chests of drawers, dressing tables and wardrobes with hinged, sliding and mirrored doors. Home office furniture has become increasingly important and Lowes stocks desks in standing and sitting versions, ergonomic office chairs, filing cabinets and shelving. Outdoor furniture includes lounge sets, dining sets, benches, hammocks and storage boxes in weather resistant rattan, timber and aluminium. Finishes are chosen to coordinate with flooring and paint, so a customer can create a unified scheme. Assembly services are available and many items are designed for easy self assembly with clear instructions.

8. Outdoor Living Garden Landscaping And Extra Services

The outdoor area extends the home into the garden. The garden centre is often partially open air and contains live plants including bedding plants, perennials, shrubs, climbers, ornamental grasses, fruit trees and hedging, plus seeds, bulbs and turf. Growing media includes compost, topsoil, bark mulch, fertiliser and plant food, while pots, planters and raised beds support container gardening. Gardening tools such as spades, forks, rakes, hoes, secateurs, loppers and wheelbarrows are displayed alongside powered equipment including petrol and electric lawnmowers, robotic mowers, strimmers, hedge trimmers, leaf blowers, chainsaws and pressure washers. For leisure, there is garden furniture, parasols, gazebos, barbecues fuelled by charcoal, gas and electricity, smokers, pizza ovens, fire pits, outdoor heaters and festoon lighting. Landscaping materials such as fence panels, trellis, decking boards in timber and composite, paving slabs, gravel, sand, cement and retaining wall blocks allow for construction of patios, paths and boundaries. Seasonal ranges include snow blowers, salt and de icer in winter and paddling pools, hose pipes, sprinklers and insect control in summer. Beyond products, Lowes provides services that make projects achievable for everyone. These include timber cutting, pipe cutting, key cutting, paint colour matching, free project advice, professional measurement, home delivery by lorry, installation for flooring, carpets, kitchens, bathrooms, roofing, fencing and appliances, tool hire, credit facilities, extended warranties and a loyalty programme. Together these services mean that Lowes functions not simply as a shop but as a complete partner for building, maintaining, decorating and enjoying a home, from the foundations beneath the floor to the cushions on the sofa.

In essence Lowes is more than a store, it is a home partner. From foundations to sumptuous sofas, from sparkling taps to snuggly bedding, it brings every element of building, fixing and styling under one roof. Whether you are laying a floor, planting a garden or choosing a new rug, Lowes offers quality, choice and expert support. Step in with an idea and walk out with a home that feels stronger, warmer and unmistakably yours. That is the magic of Lowes, practical when you need it, inspiring when you want it, and ready to help you love where you live.

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

PICKLE : A PART OF FOOD IN THE WESTERN WORLD

                                        

                                        

Pickle Is A Part Of Food In The Western World

If you grew up in India you know what pickle means. It means that steel dabba of mango achar that can make plain curd rice taste like a feast. It means lemon pickle that sits for months and gets better with age. It means oil on your fingers and a burst of masala that hits you even before you take a bite.

Now go to America or Europe and ask for pickle. You will get something totally different. And that difference is exactly why this story needs to be told.

In the western world pickle is not a side hero. It is a quiet companion. It lives inside burgers. It sits next to your sandwich. It hides inside salads. But do not mistake quiet for unimportant. Without pickle the western fast food industry would collapse. The McDonalds burger, the Subway sandwich, the New York deli platter, all are incomplete without it.

Homemade pickles are a rich source of pre and probiotics that support gut health in a natural and flavourful way. When vegetables are fermented using traditional methods, beneficial bacteria develop during the process and these live cultures act as probiotics that help balance intestinal flora, improve digestion and enhance nutrient absorption. The vegetables themselves provide prebiotic fibre which serves as nourishment for good bacteria already present in the gut, and this powerful combination of pre and probiotics makes naturally fermented pickles far superior to vinegar based commercial varieties that lack live cultures and often contain preservatives and excess salt. Regular consumption may strengthen immunity, reduce bloating and promote overall wellness, while homemade preparation allows complete control over ingredients, salt levels and fermentation time. Popular choices such as cucumbers, carrots, beetroot, cauliflower and mango can be transformed with garlic, spices and herbs, developing complex flavour while preserving vitamins and enzymes. Including a small portion with daily meals offers an easy affordable and delicious way to boost digestive health. For best results use clean glass jars filtered water and allow fermentation at room temperature for several days before refrigeration to achieve perfect tanginess and probiotic potency.

The Real Difference Is The Method Of Preparation

This is where the magic lies and this is what most food bloggers miss. Indian pickle is mostly made with oil as the preservative. Mustard oil, sesame oil, salt, and a heavy hand of spices. Sunlight does the work. Fermentation happens slowly in ceramic jars. The result is intense, spicy, sour, and built to survive a hot summer without any fridge.

The western supermarket pickle is completely different. It is made with vinegar. White vinegar, apple cider vinegar, plus dill, garlic, sugar, and salt. Cucumber is the king there. The cucumber is sliced, dunked in a hot vinegar brine and sealed. It is crunchy, watery, tangy, and meant to be eaten cold. It is made in a few hours, not weeks.

But here is the fascinating part that I have personally seen in the west and that will surprise readers.

When western people make pickle in traditional format, fermented with spices, not just vinegar, it becomes a treat to the taste buds like nothing else. I was in a farmers market. A lady there was selling naturally fermented pickles. No vinegar at all. Just cucumbers, salt, water, garlic, dill, mustard seeds, black peppercorns, red chilli flakes, left in brine for seven days. The jars were cloudy. They were bubbling. That cloudiness means live bacteria. That is real fermentation. I tasted one. It was not the flat sour of vinegar. It was deep, complex, fizzy on the tongue, salty first then sour then warm from the spices. People were lining up for it. Americans who are used to only vinegar pickles were calling it the best thing they ever tasted. That is because fermentation with spices creates flavour that vinegar can never copy.

No European pickle is exactly like Indian achar but the closest are piccalilli from Britain which uses mustard turmeric and mustard seeds like mango achar, sottolio pickles from Italy and Greece where peppers and artichokes are preserved under olive oil with garlic and chilli, and ajvar and ljutenica from Serbia and Macedonia which is roasted red pepper ground with oil garlic and chilli and stored like thick pickle, these are the only European pickles that use oil as preservative and taste intense and spicy like Indian achar while most European pickles like sauerkraut and toursi are water and salt based and taste light and sour.

Why The West Is Falling In Love With Fermented Pickles Again

For almost hundred years the west forgot fermentation. Industrial food made vinegar pickles cheap and fast. But now health, gut health, probiotics, all these words are back in trend. And fermented pickles are at the centre. A real fermented pickle is full of good bacteria. It helps digestion. It is a natural probiotic. It has less sugar. It keeps the crunch longer. Chefs in New York, London, Berlin are now making pickles like Indians do, with time and patience.

In Germany they make Sauerkraut which is nothing but fermented cabbage with salt and caraway. In France they make cornichons with tarragon. In Hungary they make fermented green tomatoes with dill. In America the new cult food is spicy fermented dill pickles with habanero.

The west is learning what we knew all along. That time is an ingredient.

Three Secrets That Make Western Fermented Pickles A Treat

First, they use cold fermentation. They keep the jars at cool room temperature. This keeps the cucumber crisp. Indian pickles often become soft because of heat and oil, western fermented ones stay crunchy like fresh fruit.

Second, they use a bouquet of spices, not just chilli. Dill is their coriander. Mustard seed, bay leaf, allspice, garlic, these build aroma. When these spices ferment, they release oils slowly. The taste keeps changing every day.

Third, they drink the brine. Yes. In the west people now drink pickle juice as an energy drink after gym. Fermented pickle brine is salty, tangy, full of electrolytes. Some bars even use it in cocktails called Pickleback.

Greek Pickle

Greek pickle is called toursi and it is one of the most loved meze foods in Greece and you will find a big jar of it on almost every taverna table. In a traditional Greek home toursi is not just cucumber it is a rainbow of vegetables like tiny cucumbers, sweet Florina peppers, cauliflower florets, carrots, green tomatoes and cabbage all cut and packed together. The brine is simple and very Mediterranean, water, salt, a little grape vinegar, lots of fresh lemon juice, garlic, bay leaves, black peppercorns and plenty of dried oregano. Sometimes a splash of olive oil is added on top to seal the jar. The jars are left at room temperature for seven to fifteen days and during that time natural fermentation starts, the liquid turns cloudy and slightly bubbly and that cloudiness means it is full of good probiotic bacteria. The result is crunchy, tangy, herby and refreshing, not oily or very spicy like Indian achar. Greeks eat it cold with feta cheese, olives, grilled fish or a glass of ouzo and the sour crunch cuts through rich food perfectly. Toursi is documented as pickled vegetables prepared by the traditional recipe of the Balkans and Middle East and the word itself comes from Persian torsh which means sour, and in Greece it is enjoyed as a meze or appetizer.

The Hispanic Pickle

In the Hispanic world pickle is known as encurtido or escabeche and it is a staple from Mexico to Spain with a bold and fiery soul. In Mexico you find jalapeños en escabeche with carrots, onion and garlic in a brine of vinegar, oregano and black pepper served with tacos and carnitas. In El Salvador the national pickle is curtido, a lightly fermented mix of cabbage, carrot and onion that is essential with pupusas. In Spain and the Caribbean escabeche is often fish or peppers preserved in olive oil, vinegar, bay leaves and paprika creating a sweet, sour and smoky flavour. What makes Hispanic pickles unique is the perfect balance of heat and acidity and while most are quick pickled with vinegar, many traditional village recipes still ferment slowly with salt just like Greek toursi. Unlike Indian achar which is intense and oily, Hispanic encurtidos are bright, crunchy and refreshing and are eaten in generous portions to cut through rich meats and bring life to every meal. In Spanish encurtido literally means pickled food, and curtido is a traditional Salvadoran fermented cabbage salad that is a must with pupusas.

Russian Pickle 

Russian pickle is called solenye ogurtsy and kvashenaya kapusta and it is survival food for the long winter The most famous is salted cucumber made with no vinegar at all Cucumbers are packed in jars with garlic dill heads blackcurrant leaves cherry leaves and horseradish root and covered with salt water to ferment in a cold cellar After few days they become malosolny lightly salted and after few weeks they become fully sour cloudy and fizzy and full of probiotics The second staple is fermented cabbage with carrots and cranberries called kvashenaya kapusta and Russians also pickle tomatoes mushrooms and apples They eat pickles with black bread with soups like solyanka and with vodka and the brine called rassol is drunk as a cure Unlike oily and spicy Indian achar Russian pickle is salty sour garlicky and crunchy and is eaten in generous portions as a salad just like Greek toursi

Is Pickle A Part Of Western Food

Although pickle is a part of western food, it plays a different role. In India pickle is emotion. It is mother made. It is stored for a year. In the west pickle is utility and now luxury. It is the crunch in your burger and also the artisan jar you pay twenty dollars for at a farmers market.

If you are a food lover you must understand both. And if you ever get a chance, try to make a western style fermented dill pickle at home with Indian touch. Take fresh cucumbers, add salt, garlic, mustard seeds, dill or even curry leaves, a little turmeric, and let it ferment for five days. You will get something that connects Jammu to New Jersey in one bite.

That is the real power of pickle. Same idea, different language, loved everywhere.

(Avtar Mota)

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

"A SUNDAY ON LA GRANDE JATTE " BY GEORGES SEURAT

                            

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

by Georges Seurat

Georges Seurat (1858-1891) 

Georges Seurat was a French Post-Impressionist who pioneered Neo-Impressionism and the technique of Pointillism. Born in Paris, he studied at the École des Beaux-Arts and became fascinated by optical science and colour theory. Rather than blending pigment, he applied tiny, distinct dots of complementary colour side by side, allowing the viewer’s eye to mix them.

Georges Seurat's most celebrated work,"A Sunday on La Grande Jatte (1884–86)" , housed at the Art Institute of Chicago, took two years to complete and epitomises his methodical, almost scientific approach. Though he died aged just thirty-one, his systematic style profoundly influenced modern art. The 7 large, exhibition paintings Seurat considered his main works:

1. Bathers at Asnières  :Une Baignade, Asnières_ (1884): 2.06m x 3m - National Gallery, London

2. A Sunday on La Grande Jatte  : Un dimanche après-midi à l'Île de la Grande Jatte (1884-1886): 

2.07m x 3.08m  : Art Institute of Chicago.

3. Les Poseuses / The Models (1886-1888): 

2m x 2.5m  : Barnes Foundation, Philadelphia

4. Parade de cirque : Circus Sideshow (1887-1888): 

0.99m x 1.49m : Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

5. Le Chahut (1889-1890) : 1.70m x 1.41m :  Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo, Netherlands

6. Young Woman Powdering Herself : Jeune femme se poudrant (1889-1890) : 0.95m x 0.79m :  Courtauld Gallery, London

7. The Circus  : Le Cirque (1890-1891) : Unfinished at his death, aged 31  : 1.85m x 1.52m :  Musée d'Orsay, Paris

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte

Saw his painting ,"A Sunday on La Grande Jatte"

in  original inside the Art Institute of Chicago. It's huge , about 7 x 10 feet, which is why it fills the whole wall like that. It has been in the permanent collection there since 1926, in the Helen Birch Bartlett Memorial Collection. In the museum it's usually hung in Gallery 240.

Painted 1884-1886, it's the painting that invented Pointillism. Seurat didn't mix colors on a palette , he placed millions of tiny, distinct dots of pure color side by side. Up close it's just dots, from a distance your eye mixes them into that sunny riverbank.

A few things about ,"A Sunday on La Grande Jatte":

 

The technique is called Neo-Impressionism / Pointillism.Seurat was obsessed with colour theory and optics. That border of blue, orange and red dots around the frame is painted by him too.

It's Paris on a Sunday afternoon.The island of La Grande Jatte on the Seine river. Everyone from the working-class man in the orange shirt lying in the grass at bottom left, to the fashionable woman with the monkey on a leash on the right.

It's perfectly composed. One needs to see how almost everyone is in profile, like Egyptian friezes, and how still everything feels , even the dog. Seurat wanted modern life to feel timeless.

It took him two years and dozens of oil sketches. When he showed it in 1886, it shocked everyone and made him famous ;  he was only 26.

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

UTILITY IS THE NEW VALUE SYSTEM

                                       

                                  ( Portrait of Aristotle ) 

UTILITY IS THE NEW VALUE SYSTEM

We live in an age that worships utility. Everything is measured, like fruit by its juice, by what it yields. Education is valued if it delivers a job, like a key is valued only if it opens a vault. Religion is valued if it delivers peace of mind, like a pill is valued for sleep. A relationship is valued if it delivers advantage, like a contact is valued for reach. Even virtue is valued if it delivers brand equity, like charity is valued for a photograph. The very language of value has changed. From sacred to profitable. From true to useful.

Classical civilisation asked a vertical question: does this thing participate in something higher than itself? Modern civilisation asks a horizontal question: what does this thing produce next? When usefulness becomes the only measure of worth, man himself becomes a tool. He is valuable only as long as he is useful. Love becomes networking. Learning becomes skilling. Leisure becomes productivity. Life becomes a permanent performance review.

Upanishadic Clarity

It is this anxiety that Upanishadic thought interrupts. It begins precisely where utility ends.

The Isha Upanishad opens with a declaration that destroys the entire economics of ownership: "Isha vasyam idam sarvam yat kincha jagatyam jagat". All that moves in this moving world is enveloped by Brahman. Nothing is outside. Nothing is unclaimed by that One Consciousness. Then it gives an impossible instruction: "tena tyaktena bhunjitha" . Enjoy through renunciation.

This is not a moral sermon. It is pure metaphysics. It says enjoyment is not possible through possession. Possession tightens, guards, fears loss. It suffocates the object and the possessor alike. Only when you renounce the claim of mine does the thing return to you, not as property but as Prasada, as grace.

Why does the Upanishad say this? Because it has seen that Atman and Brahman are one. If all is one, the very structure of possession collapses. Possession requires two: a possessor and a possessed. If duality is Maya, if separation is illusion, then ownership is the first illusion. Hence the searing question: "ma gridhah kasyasvid dhanam" . Whose is wealth that you should covet? To say mine is to affirm ignorance.

In this vision, service is not social work. It is not charity from a higher to a lower. It is correction of vision. When you serve, you are not being good to another person. You are remembering who you are. "Tat tvam asi". Thou art that. To feed another is to feed yourself in a deeper body.

Buddha's and Nagarjuna's Clarity

The Buddha carries this realisation forward with ruthless compassion. He said, if you knew what I know about the power of giving, you would not let a single meal pass without sharing it in some way.

For the Buddha, sacrifice is not noble sentiment. It is intelligence. The root of dukkha is Tanha, craving. The I wants to accumulate because it believes it is incomplete. Every act of genuine giving is surgery upon that craving.

Nagarjuna takes this to its final logical end. He says there is not the slightest difference between Samsara and Nirvana. The giver, the gift and the receiver are all Shunya, empty of inherent existence. Therefore true Dhaana happens only when there is no giver left to be proud.

The Atheist and Albert Camus

The atheist and Albert Camus arrive at the same abyss from the opposite side.

Atheistic existentialism denies Brahman. It says there is no cosmic Self, no divine plan, no afterlife accounting. Man is thrown into a world that does not explain itself. Camus called this the Absurd: our desperate hunger for meaning colliding with a silent universe. His answer was not suicide, not hope, but revolt. In "The Myth of Sisyphus", Camus says we must imagine Sisyphus happy. Why? Because even if the rock will roll down again, the act of pushing it together, the solidarity in the struggle, creates value where none was given.

Camus writes: In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. That invincible summer is not given by unseen power. It is created by fidelity to others without reward. His doctor in "The Plague" works without believing in heaven, risking his life simply because it is the only decent thing to do.

This is the striking convergence. The Upanishad says give because all is Brahman. The Buddha says give because the self is empty. Camus says give even though there is no Brahman, no self, no meaning: give because in a meaningless world, generosity is your revolt against meaninglessness.

Atheism removes the metaphysical guarantee but cannot remove the metaphysical result: the more you cling for utility, the emptier you become; the more you give without utility, the more real you become.

Utility asks, what will I gain? That is the language of the market, of expediency, of the absurd man who has not yet rebelled. Dharma asks, what will remain of the I when I have given all? The Upanishad answers: That remainder is Brahman. Camus would answer: That remainder is freedom.

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.
Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.

FIRAQ GORAKHPURI AND THE EXPANSE OF UPANISHADIC BRAHMAN

                                            

Firaq Gorakhpuri and the Immeasurable Expanse of Upanishadic Brahman

"Koyi meri aankhon se dekhta, teri bazm e naaz ki wusatein

Woh har ek gosha makaan makaan, woh har ek lamha zaman zaman"

Translation:

(If someone could see through my eyes, the expanse of your assembly of grace

They would find every corner to be a whole universe, every moment to be a whole eternity)

Commentary

This couplet is from Gule Nagma, the immortal poetic composition of Firaq Gorakhpuri, and it establishes beyond doubt that Firaq is the torch bearer of profound concepts of Indic civilisation in Urdu Ghazal. In a tradition often coloured by Persian imagery, Firaq brings the vision of the Upanishads and the Bhagwad Gita into the Urdu verse with unmatched grace.Firaq brings Shiva who drank poison, Nal Damyanti, Ahilya, Shakuntala , Sri Krishna and Sri Rama into his Gazal.

Equally fluent in Hindi and Urdu, Persian and Sanskrit, he incorporated elements from his deep, self-taught knowledge of the Vedic and Puranic ethos into his poetry. Influenced by Vedic and Vedantic thought, he viewed nature not as a detached backdrop, but as an extension of human emotion and divine energy.Through these metaphors, Firaq proved that Hinduism and Indian philosophy were organic to his identity and poetry, creating an inclusive, composite cultural matrix that permanently expanded the boundaries of Urdu literature.

At the core of Firaq’s vision was a deep faith in India’s civilizational spirit: its gentleness, its compassion, and its enduring belief in the oneness of humanity. He lamented that Urdu poetry had not fully reflected the beauty of India’s cultural essence, and he made it his life’s mission to do so. 

On the surface it appears as a lover speaking to the beloved, yet in truth Firaq is engaged in a devotional description of Brahman as understood in the Upanishads. He uses the imagery of ishq to articulate what the sages called ananta. When he says koi meri aankhon se dekhta, he is invoking drishti, the Upanishadic principle that reality is not seen by the eye but through a consciousness purified by love. The seer and the seen become one. This is precisely what the Upanishads describe as Tat Tvam Asi.

Teri bazm e naaz ki wusaten is not merely a gathering. It is the cosmic expanse, the chidakasha, the infinite field of Brahman where all existence assembles. Its wusat or vastness cannot be measured by space because it contains space itself.

The second line reveals his Vedantic realisation. Wo har ek gosha makan makan means every particle contains the whole. This is the great truth that the macrocosm resides in the microcosm, that Brahman is "anu se anu and mahan se mahan" . Wo har ek lamha zaman zaman dissolves time into timelessness. In Brahman every moment is eternity, the akala tattva.

This vision attains its most majestic illustration in the Bhagavad Gita when Sri Krishna reveals his Virat Swaroopa to Arjuna in chapter eleven. Arjuna, granted divya drishti, beholds the entire cosmos within the divine form. He sees countless mouths and eyes, infinite suns blazing together, all gods and all beings, the whole of creation with its birth and dissolution contained within one boundless body. He cries that space itself trembles before this form which has no beginning, no middle and no end. This is exactly what Firaq describes. Every gosha is indeed makan makan and every lamha is zaman zaman. Thus Firaq proves that Urdu ghazal can carry the eternal light of Indic civilisation and that love itself becomes the path to realising the Virat.

( Avtar Mota )

CHINAR SHADE by Autarmota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.5 India License.

Based on a work at http:\\autarmota.blogspot.com\.